Mounting channel member and mounting channel member assembly and anchor fastener therefor

ABSTRACT

A mounting channel member including a body having an outer surface, a pair of side edges and a pair of ends and a plurality of undercut channels extending away from the outer surface. A mounting channel member assembly wherein a plurality of mounting channel members are mounted on a supporting surface in side-by-side relationship. An anchor fastener including a body having an upper body portion and a lower body portion secured to the upper body portion, a bore in the upper body portion, and the lower body portion including first and second legs with a space therebetween with the bore being aligned with the space.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting channel member and amounting channel member assembly and to an anchor fastener therefor.

By way of background, there are numerous structures for mounting membersonto a wall or ceiling. However, insofar as known, there are no mountingchannel members which have a plurality of substantially parallel spacedchannels which receive fasteners, nor are there mounting channel memberassemblies wherein a plurality of mounting channel members are placed inside-by-side relationship and secured to a wall or ceiling, nor arethere specialized types of anchor fasteners which can be inserteddirectly in it to a channel and thereafter expanded to fit the channeland removed for reuse as desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide a mounting channelmember having a plurality of substantially parallel channels thereinwhich are capable of receiving anchor fasteners.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting channelmember assembly wherein a plurality of mounting channel members eachhaving a plurality of substantially parallel channels therein aremounted in side-by-side relationship on a supporting wall or ceiling.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedanchor fastener which can be inserted directly into a channel andthereafter expanded to retain an external body in mounted relationshipon a mounting channel member and which can be removed and reused. Otherobjects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readilybe perceived hereafter.

The present invention relates to a mounting channel member comprising abody having an outer surface and a pair of side edges and a pair ofends, and a plurality of undercut channels extending away from saidouter surface.

The present invention also relates to a mounting channel member assemblycomprising a plurality of mounting channel members each having an outersurface and a pair of side edges and first and second ends, a pluralityof undercut channels extending away from each of said outer surfaces,and said plurality of mounting channel members being oriented with saidside edges in side-by-side adjacent relationship.

The present invention also relates to an anchor fastener comprising abody having an upper body portion and a lower body portion secured tosaid upper body portion, a bore in said upper body portion, said lowerbody portion comprising first and second legs with a space therebetween,and said bore being aligned with said space.

The present invention also relates to a mounting channel member andanchor fastener combination, said mounting channel member comprising anouter surface, a channel extending away from said outer surface andhaving a first pair of substantially parallel sides merging into a pairof diverging sides, and said anchor fastener comprising a body portionhaving a second pair of substantially parallel sides which fit betweensaid first pair of substantially parallel sides, and a pair of spacedlegs having outer surfaces, a bore in said body portion, and a screwwhich is held in said bore and extends into said space between said legsto force said outer surfaces of said legs into engagement with saiddiverging sides.

The various aspects of the present invention will be more fullyunderstood when the following portions of the specification are read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a mounting channel member of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken substantially in the directionof arrows 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a mounting channel member assemblycomprising a plurality of mounting channel members oriented with theirside edges in adjacent relationship and mounted on a wall;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the Z-bracketand adjacent mounting channel members of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the channel configuration ofthe mounting channel member;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of an anchor fastener;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the anchor fastener taken substantially in thedirection of arrows 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the anchor fastener takensubstantially along line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the anchor fastener takensubstantially in the direction of arrows 10--10 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the channel of themounting channel member with an anchor fastener therein before theanchor fastener member has been expanded into locking engagement withthe channel;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of a channel with an anchor fastenertherein which has been expanded into locking engagement with the channelby a screw which attaches a bracket to the mounting channel member;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view taken substantially in the direction ofarrows 13--13 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of adjacent mounting channel membersshowing the distances between the centerlines of the various channels ofeach mounting channel member and between adjacent mounting channelmembers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Summarizing briefly in advance, the present invention relates to (1) amounting channel member 10 and (2) a mounting channel member assembly 11consisting of a plurality of mounting channel members 10 placedside-by-side and mounted on a supporting surface, and (3) an anchorfastener 12 for fastening foreign objects to a mounting channel member10.

The mounting channel member 10 is an extruded aluminum member which isfabricated in ten-foot lengths, and it can be used in the ten-footlengths or can be cut to shorter lengths. Each mounting channel member10 includes an outer surface 13 having a pair of side edges 14 and apair of ends 15. A plurality of undercut channels 17 extend away fromthe outer surface 13. Each undercut channel 17 (FIG. 6) includes a pairof spaced parallel sides 19 which merge into diverging sides 20. Thechannels also have a bottom wall 21, the outer sides 22 of which all liein the same plane. Each channel 17 is symmetrical about centerline 23.There are beveled junctions 24 between spaced sides 19 and outer surface13. In an actual model, the dimension D (FIG. 6) is 0.891 inches, andFIG. 6 is drawn to scale and the angular relationship of theabove-enumerated parts are accurately represented. The mounting channelmember 10 is approximately 85/8 inches across outer sides 14. As can beseen from FIG. 1, there are three pairs of channels 17 in each mountingchannel member. In an actual device, as shown in FIG. 14, thecenterlines between the channels 17 of a pair of close channels 17 areone inch apart, and the distance between the closest channels 17 ofadjacent pairs of channels is 1.875 inches. The centerlines of theuppermost and lowermost channels 17 of each channel member 10 are 0.9375inches from sides 14 (FIG. 14). The foregoing spacing provides differentdistances among the six channels 17 of each channel member 10 forreceiving fasteners for attaching objects to each channel member 10.

One possible configuration of a channel member assembly 11 (FIG. 4)consists of four channel members 10 of any desired length, for example,21/2 feet, placed with their sides 14 adjacent to each other and mountedon a wall 26 by a pair of Z-brackets 25 (FIGS. 4 and 5). As noted fromthe above dimensions shown in FIG. 14, when the mounting channel members10 are placed with sides 14 adjacent each other, the distance betweenthe centerlines of the closest channels 17 on the opposite sides ofsides 14 is 1.875 inches which is the same as the distance 1.875 inchesbetween the centerlines of the closest channels 17 of adjacent pairs ofchannels. Thus, in an assembly 11 there is a uniform pattern of all ofthe channels 17, that is, there is a spacing of one inch between twochannels of a pair, and there is a spacing of 1.875 inches between allof the pairs of channels 17 of assembly 11.

Each Z-bracket has a leg 27 fastened to wall 24 by screws 29 and a leg30 which is connected to leg 25 by web 31. Each leg 30 bears on theouter surfaces 13 of mounting channel members 10. Additionally, eachmounting channel member 10 is fastened to each leg 30 by a plurality ofanchor fasteners 12 which function in a manner which is described indetail hereafter.

The anchor fastener 12 (FIGS. 8-12) which is utilized to fasten aforeign object 31 (FIG. 12) to a mounting channel member 10 consists ofan upper body portion 32 and a lower body portion 33 having spaced legs34. The upper body portion 32 includes a pair of linear triangularflanges 35 which fit in complementary mating relationship to beveledsurfaces 24 (FIGS. 11 and 12) when the anchor fastener 12 is in a fullyinstalled position in a channel 17.

The outer sides 37 of each fastener 12 (FIG. 7) are spaced from eachother slightly less than the distance between the sides 19 (FIG. 6) ofthe channel 17 so that the anchor fastener 12 can be inserted into achannel 17 at any part of the channel by merely inserting itperpendicularly to the outer surface 13. In an actual device, sides 37were spaced 0.274 inches apart and sides 19 of the channel were spaced0.281 inches apart. The anchor fastener, as shown in FIGS. 7-10, isdrawn to scale. Legs 34 have substantially parallel planar outer sides37 on the opposite sides of space 46. The sides 37 have a lateraldimension which is larger than both the diameter of bore 40 and thewidth of the legs 34, as can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 7 and10.

The upper body portion 32 includes a bore 40 for receiving a screw 41.The diameter of bore 40 is equal to the outer diameter of screw 41. Aplurality of ribs 42 extend inwardly into bore 40. The inner edges ofribs 42 lie on a diameter which is equal to the root diameter of screw41. Thus when screw 41 is threaded into bore 40, it taps through ribs 42without threading into the sides of bore 40. The ribs provide the easygripping surfaces when screw 41 is threaded into bore 40. The spacing 46between legs 34 is less than the root diameter of screw 41, and it isthis dimensioning which forces the legs 34 apart when screw 41 is in theposition of FIG. 12.

After the anchor fastener has been inserted into a channel 17 to theposition shown in FIG. 11, as screw 41 is threaded through bore 40 tothe position of FIG. 12, it will force legs 34 apart so that they willmove from their parallel position of FIG. 11 to the expanded position ofFIG. 12 and thus force the outer sides of legs 34 into engagement withthe diverging sides 20 of channel 17. As can be seen from a comparisonof FIGS. 11 and 12 and as noted above, the space 46 between legs 34 issmaller than the diameter of screw 41, and it is this relationship whichforces legs 34 to the position of FIG. 12 when screw 41 is in its finalposition.

The anchor fastener 12 is fabricated from high impact nylon withapproximately 33% of glass fibers. The nylon is known under the tradename CELANESE 7523 and it is a product of the Ticona Company. The 33%glass fibers are approximately 0.0007 inches in diameter and are choppedinto approximately 0.125 inch lengths and are distributed in a randommanner within the body of the anchor fastener 12. The foregoingcomposition of the anchor fastener serves a plurality of purposes. Inthis respect, the nylon will not extrude when it is forced into theposition of FIG. 12 by screw 41. In addition, the memory of the anchorfastener is such that when screw 41 is removed, the legs 34 will returnsubstantially to the position shown in FIG. 11, to thereby permit theanchor fastener 12 to be withdrawn directly outwardly from channel 17for reuse.

As can be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13, the screws 41 are utilized tosecure a foreign body 31 to surface 13 of channel member 10. The screwspass through base 43 of foreign body 31 and the heads 44 of screws 41are received in countersunk holes 45 of body 31. While FIG. 13 showsboth fasteners 12 in a single channel 17, it will be appreciated thatthe base 43 can be oriented crosswise of channels 17 so that thefasteners 12 may be located in a plurality of channels, depending on thespacing between the holes in base 43. In this respect, considering theabove spacing among the plurality of channels 17, by properly spacingthe holes 45 in a base 43, the base 43 can be mounted perpendicularly tothe channels 17 or at 45 degrees relative to channels 17, either in asingle mounting channel member 10 or across adjacent mounting channelmembers 10, as oriented in FIG. 4. In the latter respect, a base 43 canbridge the 1.875 inch space across the edges 14 of adjacent channels inthe same manner as it can bridge the 1.875 inch space between adjacentchannels 17 within a single mounting channel member 10.

While FIGS. 1-4 have shown the mounting channel members 10 oriented withthe channels 17 oriented horizontally on a wall, it will be appreciatedthat the channels may be oriented vertically or at any desired angle.Also, while the mounting channel members 10 have been shown in FIG. 4 asbeing mounted on a wall, it will be appreciated that they can also bemounted on a ceiling, and further, the channel members 10 aresufficiently rigid so that they can be the walls by merely fasteningthem to studs by suitable screws which pass through bottom walls 21 ofchannels 17, or by the use of suitable adhesive.

It will be appreciated that the above-discussed dimensions are by way ofexample and not of limitation, and other dimensions can be used withinthe scope of the present invention.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed, it will be appreciated that the present invention is notlimited thereto, but can be otherwise embodied within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting channel member comprising a bodyhaving an outer surface and a pair of side edges and a pair of ends, anda plurality of undercut channels extending away from said outer surface,each of said channels including spaced sides adjacent said outer surfacemerging into diverging sides on the opposite sides of said spaced sidesfrom said outer surface.
 2. A mounting channel member as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said spaced sides are substantially parallel.
 3. Amounting channel member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channelsare symmetrical about a centerline.
 4. A mounting channel member as setforth in claim 3 wherein said spaced sides are substantially parallel.5. A mounting channel member as set forth in claim 1 including beveledjunctions between said outer surface and said spaced sides.
 6. Amounting channel member as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spacedsides are substantially parallel.
 7. A mounting channel member as setforth in claim 6 wherein said channels are symmetrical about a verticalcenterline.
 8. A mounting channel member as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid undercut channels are substantially parallel to each other.
 9. Amounting channel member as set forth in claim 8 wherein saidsubstantially parallel channels are oriented in pairs having a firstspacing between the channels of each pair and a second spacing betweensaid pairs which is greater than said first spacing.
 10. A mountingchannel member assembly comprising a plurality of mounting channelmembers each having an outer surface and a pair of side edges and firstand second ends, a plurality of undercut channels extending away fromeach of said outer surfaces, and said plurality of mounting channelmembers being oriented with said side edges in side-by-side adjacentrelationship, first and second mounting brackets engaging said first andsecond ends, respectively, each of said channels including spaced sidesadjacent said outer surface merging into diverging sides on the oppositesides of said spaced sides from said outer surface.
 11. A mountingchannel member assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said spacedsides are substantially parallel.
 12. A mounting channel member assemblyas set forth in claim 10 wherein said substantially parallel channelsare oriented in pairs having a first spacing between the channels ofeach pair and a second spacing between said pairs which is greater thansaid first spacing.
 13. A mounting channel member assembly as set forthin claim 10 wherein said first and second brackets are of Z shape.
 14. Amounting channel member assembly comprising a plurality of mountingchannel members each having an outer surface and a pair of side edgesand first and second ends, a plurality of undercut channels extendingaway from each of said outer surfaces, said plurality of mountingchannel members being oriented with said side edges in side-by-sideadjacent relationship, said substantially parallel channels beingoriented in pairs having a first spacing between the channels of eachpair and a second spacing between said pairs which is greater than saidfirst spacing, said mounting channel members including at least onechannel which is closest to a side edge of each of a pair of saidchannel members, and said undercut channels closest to said side edgesin said side-by-side adjacent relationship being spaced apartsubstantially the same distance as said second spacing, each of saidchannels including spaced sides adjacent said outer surface merging intodiverging sides on the opposite sides of said spaced sides from saidouter surface.
 15. A mounting channel member assembly as set forth inclaim 14 wherein said spaced sides are substantially parallel.
 16. Amounting channel member and anchor fastener combination, said mountingchannel member comprising an outer surface, a channel extending awayfrom said outer surface and having a first pair of substantiallyparallel sides merging into a pair of diverging sides, and said anchorfastener comprising a body portion having a second pair of substantiallyparallel sides which fit between said first pair of substantiallyparallel sides, and a pair of legs having outer surfaces and a spacetherebetween, a bore in said body portion, and a screw which is held insaid bore and extends into said space between said legs to force saidouter surfaces of said legs into engagement with said diverging sides.17. A mounting channel member and anchor fastener combination as setforth in claim 16 including beveled junctions between said outer surfaceand said substantially parallel sides, and triangular flanges on saidbody portion which fit in complementary mating engagement with saidbeveled junctions.
 18. A mounting channel member and anchor fastenercombination, said mounting channel member comprising an outer surface,an undercut channel extending into said outer surface and having a pairof diverging sides having a narrowest portion, and said anchor fastenercomprising a body portion, a pair of spaced legs extending from saidbody portion, outer surfaces on said spaced legs, a bore in said bodyportion, and a screw which is held in said bore and is movable into saidspace between said legs to force said outer surfaces of said legsoutwardly into engagement with said diverging sides.
 19. A mountingchannel member and anchor fastener combination as set forth in claim 18including beveled junctions between said outer surface of said mountingchannel member and said undercut channel, and flanges on said bodyportion which fit in complementary mating engagement with said beveledjunctions.
 20. A mounting channel member and anchor fastener combinationas set forth in claim 18 wherein said body portion has a narrowerdimension than the narrowest portion of said diverging sides of saidundercut channel, and wherein the dimension across said outer surfacesof said spaced legs is smaller than the narrowest portion of saiddiverging sides of said undercut channel when said spaced legs are notforced outwardly.
 21. A mounting channel member and anchor fastenercombination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said outer surfaces of saidlegs include substantially planar substantially parallel portions whichhave a lateral dimension which is larger than the dimension of each ofsaid legs taken substantially perpendicularly to said outer surfaces ofsaid legs.
 22. A mounting channel member and anchor fastener combinationas set forth in claim 21 including at least one beveled junction betweensaid undercut channel and said outer surface of said mounting channelmember, and at least one flange on said body portion for engaging saidat least one beveled junction.
 23. A mounting channel member and anchorfastener combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein the dimensionacross said outer surfaces of said spaced legs is smaller than thenarrowest portion of said diverging sides of said undercut channel whensaid spaced legs are not forced outwardly.
 24. A mounting channel memberand anchor fastener combination as set forth in claim 23 wherein saidlegs have a memory which causes them to return to said smaller dimensionwhen they are not forced outwardly by said screw.
 25. A mounting channelmember and anchor fastener combination as set forth in claim 23 whereinsaid outer surfaces of said legs include substantially planarsubstantially parallel portions which have a lateral dimension which islarger than the dimension of each of said legs taken substantiallyperpendicularly to said outer surfaces of said legs.
 26. A mountingchannel member and anchor fastener combination as set forth in claim 25including at least one beveled junction between said undercut channeland said outer surface of said mounting channel member, and at least oneflange on said body portion for engaging said at least one beveledjunction.
 27. A mounting channel member and anchor fastener combinationas set forth in claim 23 wherein said legs have a memory which causesthem to return to said smaller dimension when they are not forcedoutwardly by said screw.
 28. A mounting channel member and anchorfastener combination as set forth in claim 27 wherein said outersurfaces of said legs include substantially planar substantiallyparallel portions which have a lateral dimension which is larger thanthe dimension of each of said legs taken substantially perpendicularlyto said outer surfaces of said legs.
 29. A mounting channel member andanchor fastener combination as set forth in claim 26 including at leastone beveled junction between said undercut channel and said outersurface of said mounting channel member, and at least one flange on saidbody portion for engaging said at least one beveled junction.
 30. Amounting channel member and anchor fastener combination as set forth inclaim 27 wherein said mounting channel member includes a plurality ofsaid undercut channels oriented in substantially parallel relationship,and a plurality of said anchor fasteners in said plurality of undercutchannels.